A man who went for a dental check-up thought he had a mouth ulcer. But it led to a cancer diagnosis that would bring his world "crashing down".
Paul Doherty, 48, was referred to the hospital by his dentist and what followed was the worst case scenario as he was diagnosed with oral carcinoma - mouth cancer. It led to Paul undergoing major surgery to remove part of his tongue and lymph nodes in his neck.
Since the operation he's had to learn how to talk again due to having had a tracheostomy, a surgically created hole in the windpipe that provides an alternative way to breathe. His family have been left devastated as they watch their "outgoing and kind-hearted" dad and husband fight to recover, reports BirminghamLive.
A fundraiser was set up by family friend Laura O'Neil to support them, as the construction worker was the sole earner. It has raised more than £5,000 for far to help with transport to and from hospital and paying the bills until self-employed Paul can work again.
Writing on the GoFundMe page she set up for the family, Laura said: "To all who knows Paul (referred to friends as Doc), everyone knows the big personality he has, his extremely outgoing and has the kindest heart and lives for his family and friends. Doc is 48 and has always been self employed working within the construction industry.
"He has always worked hard to provide for his family and had exciting things planned for his future but four weeks ago his and his family’s life came crashing down. Around Christmas he had what he thought was an ulcer on his tongue and left it as that.
"Until recently he took a trip to the dentist who referred him to the hospital. [After] weeks of anxiously waiting for the results…unfortunately the dreaded news came."
Paul is now learning to talk again. Laura explained: "He is currently learning to talk through his tracheostomy, he has been so brave and has kept his spirits up but he has a long road to recovery and a hell of a lot of fighting to do before the end.
"So we have decided to try to take a tiny amount of pressure away from him and his family and try and raise some money to pay things such as transport to and from the QE hospital as his partner does not drive, and food and bills. Doc's wages are the main income to the family house and as he will not be able to work for the foreseeable future, we would love to try and take a little pressure of and enable them to keep their strength for their future fight."
Paul's wife Sam said said she was "very grateful" for the support. She added: "You never think it will happen to you and then the added pressure of being self-employed puts even more pressure on."
To help raise money, Laura is doing a raffle from her beauty business, Laura O'Neill Aesthetics and Training, with beauty treatments on offer. Find our more by visiting her Facebook page. You can also visit Laura's fundraising page
